Recent commentaries

Jesus Arrives at Mary and Martha’s House

John 11:17–11:30
Lazarus probably died about the same time the messenger arrived to tell Jesus about his sickness (v. 17). Since Palestine is a warm climate and decomposition sets in quickly, a person was usually buried the same day he died. Therefore, Lazarus had been placed in a tomb. Sin … Read more

News of Lazarus’ Death

John 11:1–11:16
The setting for a miracle is described (vv. 1- 6). Lazarus, a close friend of Jesus, had become gravely ill. Jesus was about twenty miles from Bethany when a messenger arrived with the news that His dear friend, Lazarus, was critically ill. Scripture makes it clear there was a st … Read more

Rejected by the Religious Leaders

John 10:22–10:42
Bible scholars say that approximately two months had passed between the previous account and these events. The “feast of the dedication” (Hanukkah) (v. 22) takes place in December, which is near the time when we celebrate our Christmas. This feast celebrates the rededic … Read more

The Good Shephard Knows His Sheep

John 10:11–10:21
Some of the greatest people named in the Bible were shepherds by occupation. Abel, the patriarchs, Moses, and David to name a few. Besides being the only door into the sheepfold, Christ is also the good shepherd (v. 11). He is good because He giveth his life for the benefit of th … Read more

The True Shepherd

John 10:1–10:10
Jesus opens this passage with a familiar illustration that every listener would understand. Thieves and robbers attempt to enter the sheepfold by climbing over the wall. A sheepfold normally consisted of four walls of stone with one door and no roof. The fold refers to Israel (v. … Read more

The Testimony of the Healed Man

John 9:24–9:41
The Pharisees tried to pressure the healed man into withdrawing his testimony about Jesus. They wanted him to say that the miracle of his sight was only a miracle of God and that Christ was a sinner (v.24). He would not debate the character of Jesus Christ, because that was beyon … Read more

Trouble with the Jewish Leaders

John 9:13–9:23
Because of Jesus compassion and healing of this blind man He soon found Himself in trouble with the Jewish leaders (v. 16). His act of deliberately healing the man on the Sabbath Day caused the Pharisees great concern. In their eyes He had broken the Sabbath in three ways (vv. 13 … Read more

Contentment in Any Circumstance

John 9:1–9:12
It is said that in the United States somebody goes blind every twenty minutes. In this chapter, the Lord encounters a blind man, and the question put to Him by the disciples concerning the man’s blindness can help us face the question that all of us have asked at one time or anot … Read more

Jesus’ Claims To His Identity

John 8:48–8:59
We will find in this passage four claims made by Jesus in regard to His identity.1. The first claim Jesus made was in regard to EXALTATION (vv. 48-50).

a.When Jesus keeps refuting their arguments, the Jewish leaders reso … Read more

Bound by Pride

John 8:31–8:47
Jesus explained how when we obey God’s Word we grow in spiritual knowledge; and as we grow in spiritual knowledge, we grow in freedom from sin (vv. 31-32). These unbelieving Jews, even though they were under the iron hand of Rome at that very time, claimed that as Abraham’s desce … Read more

Jesus Predicts His Death

John 8:21–8:30
Jesus had already mentioned that He would be leaving them (7:34) but the Jews had misunderstood what He had said. Once again He warned these Jews that He would leave them and they would not be able to follow Him, and they would die in their sins (v. 21). They did not unders … Read more

Jesus is the Light of the World

John 8:12–8:20
During the Feast of Tabernacles, the women’s court in the temple was lighted by giant lamps with burning wicks made from the priests’ worn out garments. This reminded the people of how God was with them in the wilderness guiding them by a pillar of fire by night. In this setting … Read more

Pharisees Condemn the Adulterous Woman

John 8:1–8:7
In this passage we find the Jewish religious leaders trying to set a trap. They brought a woman to Christ whom they said had been caught in adultery (v. 3). They said, “Teacher, this woman was caught sleeping with a man who isn’t her husband. The Law of Moses teaches that a … Read more

Jesus Forgives the Adulterous Women

John 8:8–8:11
Jesus bent over and began writing on the ground (v. 8). The people left one by one, beginning with the oldest (v. 9). Finally, Jesus and the woman were there alone (v. 10). Jesus then asked her, “Where is everyone? Isn’t there anyone left to accuse you,” and she said no … Read more